How Crowdfunding Works

Sponsors help fund projects. To help this process along Creators offer rewards for donations. Funds only change hands when a project achieves its minimum needed.

For more information on the sponsorship process for both Sponsors and Creators, please visit our About section.

Who can be a Creator?

SOAS, University of London has been created for students, so a Creator must be a registered member of a university, college or school. Where the Creator is a member of staff, the project must be for the direct benefit of students.

Crowdfunding is an inherently public process so, for child protection reasons, Creators have to be at least 16 years old. If younger than this, students can ask a member of staff at their school to register as the Creator of the project, e.g. their teacher or coach.

Why do alumni sponsor projects?

Most alumni had close attachment to clubs and societies during their time at university, college or school.
They are keen to help and support their old establishments, especially when Creators offer them rewards which help them to reconnect.

How much can Creators raise for projects?

SOAS, University of London supports all sorts of projects, from big to small. Creators can raise funds for projects of any size they wish. There really isn't a limit on too small or too big - whether that's £100 or £100,000
SOAS, University of London can help!

What is all-or-nothing funding?

All-or-nothing funding means that unless your project has achieved its minimum fundraising target by its fundraising deadline, no donations or rewards change hands.

Assuming you reach your minimum target by your fundraising deadline, we will process your pledges. In order to arrange payment, please contact us after your completion date. If we don’t hear from you, we will get in touch with you.

Account Settings

Can I change my profile name?

Make sure you're logged in, go to 'account', and click on the 'edit profile' button.

I forgot my password. How can I log in?

D'oh! You can reset your password by clicking the 'reset your password' link on the login page. You will be
sent an mail which contains a link to gain access to your account.

How do I delete my account?

Can I change my email notification settings?

You will only receive emails about projects which you are following. To stop receiving these, go to the project page and click 'Follow' - when the pink heart is absent you won't receive email updates. If you no longer wish to receive our newsletter, click on 'Unsubscribe' at the bottom of any newsletter.

The Website

Can I find Hubbub elsewhere on the web?

Who is the team behind Hubbub?

An important question. If you can't be bothered to do a Google search or read through court orders, you can
learn a little about us at our team page.

Does Hubbub have a blog?

Indeed we do. Our blog is full of advice on crowdfunding, success stories and Hubbub news.

Starting your project

Can I be a Creator?

Are you a registered student or former student at a university, college or school? Yes? Then you can be a Creator and post projects on Hubbub!

Creators also have to be at least 16 years of age. If you're under 16 and want to post a project, you'll need to get someone over 16 to register on the site and be responsible for your project, e.g. your teacher or coach..

What types of project can I post?

Are you running a sports club in dire need of some new equipment? Are you part of a drama society hunting for some costumes or a proper location for a production? Or are you a biologist in need of an incubator to grow some baby terrapins?

Projects can be pretty much anything! It doesn't matter what you are raising funds for - whether it's for a personal project or for your club or society, Hubbub is for you!

I just need general sponsorship to cover my society's costs for the year. Can I post on Hubbub?

Just seeking "sponsorship" doesn't really constitute a project. However, that doesn't mean you can't turn it into one. Think about how you could break this down for potential Sponsors. How will you spend the funds? What will they allow you to do? Over what period will the funds be used?

I'm raising money for charity. Can I post on Hubbub?

We divide charity fund-raising into two parts. We can help you raise funds to finance your travel, accommodation or equipment for a charity trip. However, we recommend using a site like MyRaising to collect funds for the charity itself. This is a more efficient way of collecting as you will raise more money per donation for the charity. This is largely due to the tax incentives websites like these can apply for on the charity's behalf. Nevertheless, we believe you deserve support to carry out your project. Do you need to buy specialist trekking gear? Or funds to cover your travel/accommodation costs? If so, Hubbub can help you raise the funds to carry out your project or event, and perhaps, make it even better!

For example, you need to raise £1000 for Charity X in order to qualify for a charity expedition to Nepal. We recommend you use MyRaising to raise this money, but MyRaising will not permit you to use the website to raise money to cover personal costs. Step forward Hubbub. We can help you with all of your personal and/or group expenses.

Are a minimum needed, funding target and completion date required?

If you are a student and your project fundraising campaign is successful, we will contact you to arrange the secure transfer of funds. If you are a member of staff we will be in touch to arrange allocation of funds to your project.

You can find out more about how we collect donations and transfer these to Project Creators under ‘Transfer of Funds’ in our FAQs.

What is all-or-nothing funding?

All-or-nothing funding means that unless your project has achieved its minimum fundraising target by its fundraising deadline, no donations or rewards change hands.

Assuming you reach your minimum target by your fundraising deadline, we will process your pledges. In order to arrange payment, please contact us using our contact form after your completion date. If we don’t hear from you, we will get in touch with you.

Rewards

Are rewards required?

Yes! We've found that offering a reward for a donation helps Sponsors to engage with your project and encourages donations. The better your rewards, the more likely you are to reach your funding target. But remember, you only need to deliver your rewards if your project reaches its minimum needed and after you have received your funding. This means that the funds you receive will cover the cost of rewards.

Who creates the rewards?

You, the Creator, create the rewards. The better they are the more likely you are to get donations. However, the cost and number of the rewards is also controlled by you, so do consider this when choosing them.

What can be offered?

We leave this largely to you. Rewards are typically items connected to the project itself – a copy of the CD recorded, a limited edition of the magazine, a signed print of the show. Many Creators will also wish to offer experiences – tickets to a show, a concert or a society dinner are popular. Then there are various forms of accreditation reward ranging from a mention on your website or in your magazine to naming something after a Sponsor. Anything that seeks to build a relationship with Sponsors is a great approach.

What cannot be offered?

No alcohol, drugs or pornography please! Investment, loan solicitations and coupons or discounts on future goods are also forbidden. We don't want you to get locked up! Offering raffle tickets, lotteries and sweepstakes is illegal in some countries. In the UK you must notify your local authority if you are ever planning to sell tickets for this type of event publicly.

Can I limit the quantity of a reward?

Yes. When you add a reward to your proposal, you will be asked to specify whether it is in limited supply and, if so, how many you are able to provide.

How can I get Sponsors' information to give them their rewards?

We will collect all of the information you need for you and make it available to you after your completion date if your project is successful.

Why doesn't the number of Sponsors match the number of rewards?

Sponsors have the option of selecting a reward beneath their donation level or to select no reward at all.

After Submission

What happens after I submit my project?

For advice on how to promote you project, you can visit the Promotion section of Hubbub Academy.

Can I edit my project after submitting?

Sorry! Apart from us needing to keep reviewing amended proposals, we feel this allows too much room for Creators to change the deal after Sponsors have made donations.

However, you can add updates to your project once published so that Sponsors can keep track of the latest developments.

Can I change my minimum, funding goal or completion date after submitting?

No. It is not permitted to edit your project after submission.

Can I edit my project after funding is completed?

No, otherwise Creators would be able to raise money donated for one purpose and then spend it on something different. This isn't fair on your Sponsors.

How many projects can I post at the same time?

As many as you want. We impose no limit though it might be in your interest to keep the number of live projects low. This prevents you exhausting your networks of potential Sponsors. Sponsors are unlikely to donate several times to the same person or society in a short space of time. Even if they do, their donations will be far smaller when shared between multiple projects, meaning that maybe none of your projects get funded!

Can I split funding for one project into several projects?

Yes. The advantage of doing this is that people might be more interested in one aspect of your plans than another and, in doing so, you're giving them the freedom to choose where to put their money. The disadvantages are outlined above. You must also remember that if you earn funding for one aspect of the project, but not the others, you are still obliged to complete the successfully funded project.

Can I share my project with friends before I submit?

Yes. In the sense that you will be able to discuss what you're doing with people online and via word of mouth. However, you will not be able to send people a link to your project in draft mode (though screenshots are possible). In order for other people to view your projects prior to it going live, you will need to log in to your account and demo the project in preview mode.

Can I cancel my project?

You can cancel a project by informing us using our contact form. We will notify your Sponsors.

Can I retry if unsuccessful?

Yes. If you didn't reach your minimum you can re-submit your project as many times as you like. However, we recommend that you make some alterations. Why weren't you successful last time? Would a different funding target or completion date help?

What happens if funding is completed before the completion date?

Nothing! There isn't an option to end a project early. Donations are only collected at the completion date. We allow Sponsors to continue donating even after your target has been reached so you could even generate more. We have found that projects offering great rewards have managed to achieve many times their funding target!

Can I raise more than my minimum needed?

Yes. Your minimum needed is the minimum you need with which to carry out your project.

How many Creators can I have on my project?

There can only be one Creator account per project, but you should definitely get help from your friends and other society, club, group or department members to help create and promote it.

Can I pledge to my own project?

Sadly no. Credit card rules do not allow Creators to make a payment to themselves. This prevents individuals from attempting to obtain a cash advance. Please don't try it - not even from another account. PayPal may suspend your account, but may not tell you until after the project completion date. This will mean losing all of your Sponsors' donations!

Where can I find Sponsors?

Finding Sponsors is vital if you are to achieve your funding target. For advice on how to promote you project, please visit the Promotion section of Hubbub Academy.

Fees

Does Stripe charge any fees for credit/debit card payments?

Stripe applies fees of 2.4% + 20p for every donation made to successful projects. Please visit Stripe's Fees page for more information on their costs.

Does it cost anything to post on Hubbub?

No. Not a penny. Payment fees will only be applied when a project is successfully funded.

Project Media

Do I have to make a video?

No, but a video is highly recommended as it greatly improves your chances of achieving your funding target.

Can I add a video later?

No. You can't edit a project after submitting it.

Any advice on what makes a great video?

Hop on over to the Video section of Hubbub Academy for advice on how to put a great video together.

Can I use music on my video?

Can I embed media?

You can add images to the description section of your project, but not videos.

Updates

What are Updates?

An Update is a bit like a status update on Facebook or a tweet on Twitter. It lets Sponsors know about developments in your project and how you're getting on. They breathe life into your project and are essential to the sponsorship process. For advice on how to use them visit the Updates section of Hubbub Academy.

What media can I use in Updates?

You can add images, but not videos.

Will Sponsors know if I've posted an Update?

Yes. We will notify them automatically. For advice on how to use them visit the Updates section of Hubbub Academy.

Responsibilities

What is my responsibility for answering questions from Sponsors?

Sponsors will ask you questions about your project. They may want more information on your rewards or to ask for more details about how you will carry out your project, or even for more information on you! Sponsors should be answered promptly. In cases where many Sponsors ask the same question, you should answer with an Update to your project so that anyone viewing it can see this information.

What if I can't complete my project as listed?

If this is the case you must cancel funding immediately. However, please be aware that this could damage your reputation and that of your university, college or school, so please do not do it lightly.

You can cancel a project by informing us using our contact form. We will notify your Sponsors.

What if I can't deliver a reward?

Get in touch with the Sponsor(s) immediately. Creators who are honest and open will find Sponsors to be far more forgiving. You may be asked to provide a different reward. In very rare instances, a Sponsor may request a refund. When you submit your project you will be asked to agree to a refund policy, which we will also display to the Sponsor when they make a pledge.

Pledges

Can I be a Sponsor?

Yes. Anybody can be a Sponsor. You will need either (a) a PayPal account, or (b) a debit or credit card. The project owner decides which of these two methods of payment they will accept (or both), so the payment choices rest with them. You will be asked for your details when you pledge to a project.

How do I make a pledge?

Simply find a project you like and hit the 'Sponsor This Project' button at the right-hand side of the page and follow the on-screen instructions.

When will I be charged?

Your card or PayPal account will be charged after the project fundraising deadline but only if the project you pledge to achieve its minimum needed by this date.

If the project is unsuccessful no money changes hands, so your card/account is not charged.

What happens if a project does not achieve its minimum needed?

Nothing! No money changes hands. This is all-or-nothing funding.

Can I pledge anonymously?

Yes. When you make a pledge you will be given the option of displaying:

your name and the value of you pledge;

just your name; or

remaining completely anonymous.

Please note that you will not be anonymous to the Creator - only to the public.

Is the value of my pledge made public?

Not automatically. We leave it entirely up to you to decide whether your name and contribution should be displayed as described above.

What info about me do you give to the Creator?

Creators see your username, the size of your donation, and the reward you've selected. If their project is successful, we'll also give the Creator your email address so that they can contact you regarding your rewards.

Will you notify me if a project I'm sponsoring is successful?

Yes. You will receive an email regardless of whether the project is successful or not.

Can I change my pledge?

You will not be allowed to amend an existing donation but you can add another one.

How do I change my credit card details before funding ends?

Please visit PayPal and log in to change your credit card details. If you paid directly by card, please get in touch with us at info@hubbub.net

Can I cancel my pledge?

When you make a pledge you make a commitment to that Creator. We, and the Creator, would really appreciate it if you don't cancel your pledge. If you really really must, you can do so through the PayPal website.

What happens if my credit card is declined?

Don’t worry, if this happens you will be sent a re-pledge link so you can make sure you have the necessary funds available and re-donate.

Rewards

Can I change my reward selection?

Sorry, no. Creators need to be able to manage the quantity of their rewards so changes could cause problems for them. You can make another pledge if there is a reward you particularly want.

Can I get a reward if I live in a different country?

Yes. But Sponsors are encouraged to select a higher donation level to counter the postage and packaging cost incurred to the Creators in the process of sending out rewards.

When will my reward be delivered?

If a project is successful, your reward will be delivered at the approximate delivery date stated on the Creator's project page. If you would like more information, you can contact the Creator directly through their profile or project page.

What do I do if the rewards haven't yet been delivered?

The delivery of rewards is a tough part of the process for Creators, especially where there are large numbers of rewards to send out or they have problems with the organisations producing their rewards. Hopefully, they will communicate any problems to you and we ask for your understanding here. However, if you wish to inquire further, you can contact the Creator directly through their profile or project page.

Responsibilities

Can I trust Creators?

In terms of a Creator's ability to deliver, it's up to them to make the case that they can successfully bring their project to life. A creator will find it very difficult to raise funds for a project without enlisting the support of individuals in their network, as well as related organisations, and their institution.

In many cases, you will know the project creator, or you heard about the project from a trusted source. Obviously, in these cases, you will have fewer problems of trust. The advantage of our focus on registered students is that it's very difficult for these to avoid detection and institutional redress.

Creators are encouraged to share links to their personal websites, Facebook groups and Twitter feeds as well as any pages that show work related to the project, or past projects. Still not sure? Ask the Creator a question via their profile or project page. At the end of the day, we leave it to your judgement. If you spot anything you think looks suspicious, there is a button on every project page where you can report suspicious projects.

How can I get more info about a project?

Most people will be happy with the information provided in the proposal and video. Short of visiting the Creator's website, you can ask them directly! You can contact the Creator directly through their profile or project page. If you have already sponsored a project and you would like to make your question public, you can post a comment on the project. The Creator will be notified by email when you do.

Will projects be completed as described?

In terms of a Creator's ability to deliver, it's up to them to make the case that they can successfully bring their project to life. Part of the Creator's job is earning the trust of Sponsors, especially those who don't personally know them.

What do I do if the rewards haven't yet been delivered?

The delivery of rewards is a tough part of the process for Creators, especially where there are large numbers of rewards to send out or they have problems with the organisations producing their rewards. Hopefully, they will communicate any problems to you and we ask for your understanding here. However, if you wish to inquire further, you can contact the Creator directly through their profile or project page.

In very rare instances, you may wish to request a refund from a Creator. You can view the Creator's refund policy on the payment page, before making a pledge.